Week 6 - New Year Low Carb Bootcamp _ Where I start to wave my big stick again

1. There is a lot of baking going on. Sweet things and bread substitutes.

Please remember that we are trying to avoid sweet things and that we are trying to avoid using artificial sweeteners.

2. A lot most of you are falling off the wagon - either 'accidentally' () or because situations arise where you have not planned ahead or deliberately.

This is not a very forgiving WOE. Lapses/cheats like this will have a big impact - at the very least you will not see any weight loss for a while - most likely, though, you will see a gain of around 3-7lbs. You really have to plan ahead and make sure you do everything you can to stay focused and avoid the carbs. Going out for a meal or to dinner at a friends does mean that you have to think about what's going to be on offer. You cannot assume that low carb options are going to be available (although most restaurants should be fairly easy to navigate).

3. There is a lot of moaning about seeing a weight gain or not losing.

May I refer you to 1 and 2 above?

Please, please, please go back to Bootcamp/Bootcamp Light rules. They are there for a reason!

I can tell you that almost every time someone posts "I don't know what to do, the scales aren't moving for me/I've gained half a stone and I don't know why, because I'm being really good/have been following the rules" this is a massive signal that, actually, they haven't.

Fat is key.Water is key.Too much alcohol will stop weight loss.Dairy - especially cream and cheese - can be an issue for many (yoghurt is better tolerated)Artificial sweeteners are to be avoided.Fruit should be severely restricted.

We have only five weeks of Bootcamp left, including this week. Let's get serious and back on track.

Haven't done it for about 5 years seriously. After I came off it I got to my lowest weight ever through sensible eating and running.... and then because I as suffering from stress/depression. Then ADs started to put a little weight back on and then various injuries meant I had to stop running as often. H's affair did the opposite to most people - I started to comfort eat in a big way - not great for self-esteem

So, here I am. Don't know what I weigh, don't want to. But I can only get into one pair of jeans atm and am not prepared to buy any more!!

Started on Saturday 9th Feb - have lost a bit off my waist and my belly is flatter. Doing OK - not really hungry at all, from memory that is the best thing about LC - you don't get hungry.

Well I've put on 2.5 lbs. no surprise as I've had a terrible week food wise.

The good thing is that an Sat and Sunday I felt awful, tired, no energy and couldn't be bothered to do my exercises, or much elseI realised I actually had enjoyed the first taste of a bit of bread or choc, but not enjoyed the second, third etc. I prefer what I feel like when I'm low carbing and can't wait to get back onto the wagon.

xenia. It is a good point. Being aware of the fact that sugar has absolutely no nutritional value and therefore not eating it, at all, myself, has not stopped me allowing my kids to eat it. I made them a panettone and butter pudding for their tea tonight for example. What has changed however is the fact that I am now much more aware of when they have it and how often.

My children have great teeth, "normal' body weights and physiches (sp?) and are very active. I am loath to drastically cut down on a particular food group and ensure they eat a very varied diet. They often eat a very low carb meal (salmon with cauliflower cheese and green veg for eg) and i don't feed them pasta anymore, but I don't have an issue with them having a pudding at the weekend. I do think that as they get older and more aware I will educate them on the way if eating I believe in however.

Don't bother with lidl's bird in a bird in Baird by the way. Dry as anything.

I am pleased to see the phrase 'ubercamp' catching on knackered after two nights out and lots of driving so ordered from our amazing Indian - grilled lamb tikka and broccoli paneer, gorgeous. Didn't even want any of DP's naan and poppadom. Not looking forward to the scales tomorrow after yesterday's excesses, but it's nice that it's so easy to get back on this woe as you know it will still be tasty and filling and you won't feel deprived.

Hi all, quite a good weekend here although I did have a couple of glasses of wine on Friday and one last night. Haven't posted my food and can't remember all of it, so won't try, but today's was:B: an oeuf en cocotte, leftover from last night's dinner (with spinach and mushrooms), and 2 rashers baconL: roast chicken, with green saladD: 2 black farmer sausages, 1/3 avocado, and 'mash' made from broccoli, mushrooms and goats cheese.

I am struggling a bit with the water these days. Not sure why as I didn't find it too difficult at the start. I was another pound down this morning - which I think gets me to a stone in total, but suspect that may be back on by weigh in tomorrow.

Had a delicious dinner tonight. Loosely based on the Mustard Chicken from Jamie's 30 min meals. Basically rub chicken breasts with rosemary, s&p, mustard powder, and then fry them in butter. Add chopped leeks half way through and some crushed garlic. Then add mushrooms and fry a bit more. When chicken nearly cooked, crumble in a chicken stock cube, add some boiling water and then reduce it down. Turn off heat, add a spoon of wholegrain mustard and a good slosh of cream. Warm through and serve. We had it with mashed swede, celeriac chips and steamed broccoli.

And can I also throw in a vote for the Mexican scrambled eggs on the low carb recipe board? They are fab. Basically eggs scrambled over chopped spring onions and chillis, with a small amount of grated cheese thrown in just at the end. A refreshing breakfast change!

Do people still support sugar though? I am very anti it. People know not to give it or have it around. I would lobby against schools doling it out. How could anyone in effect make a poison for others? (the cookies)

captainmummy we had pork shoulder on Friday and have had the following two leftover meals (I posted them a few pages back, but the thread flies by so hard to find!):

Pork fried with fennel in butter (give the fennel a head start), then a splash of lemon juice on it at the end, plenty of salt and pepper. So much more than the sum of its parts.

Fry pork up with beansprouts, garlic, ginger, chinese five spice, soy sauce. Drizzle sesame oil once frying complete and then mix in sliced spring onions and ribbons of cucumber (use peeler). Serve in lettuce wraps, but prob need to resort to cutlery in the end as it's a bit messy!

Also it's very good just as a cold meat with coleslaw and a green salad.

Was very impressed with myself today/yesterday <smug emoticon> : made a double quantity of chocolate chip cookies (great and easy MN recipe) using mini smarties instead of chopped up chocolate last night and then this morning I made a batch of tablet - both for the cake stall at our rugby club as the kids' rugby was restarting after its spring break and we also had the SRU President coming to award us with our Positive Coaching Scotland accreditation.

And I didn't have a single biscuit (had to ask ds if the smarties worked well) and I didn't scrape the tablet pan and have only had half a broken piece just to check the quality

Ratherbeonthepiste can vouch for the fact that tablet is very more-ish (as well as having a gazillion calories due to the condensed milk, sugar and butter) - or should I say, her dh can vouch for that as it had apparently disappeared before he got home....

THC You are an inspiration to all of us, obviously for the weight loss but also for doing it in the face of obstacles that many of us would find insurmountable

Lavender Chin up and hope the pain eases soon. I had a 4 month experience of chronic pain and it has changed my views of health and wellbeing. I work in healthcare and I hope that awareness has changed my practice for the better.

Have been good today. Had a cooked brunch and, for tea, we are having a pork fillet, split down the middle, stuffed with those Peppadew baby peppers with cream cheese in then wrapped in prosciutto and roasted. Just need to sort out veg to go with it now.